The plasma levels of transforming growth factor beta1 and the protein expressions of alpha-SMA, urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in liver of patients with different grades of hepatic fibrosis

Objective: To measure the plasma levels of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), the protein expression of alpha-SMA in hepatic stellate cells and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and study on the relationships between the plasma levels of TGFbeta1, the protein expression and the serum hyaluronic acid (HA) in patients with different grades of hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: Thirty seven cases with hepatic fibrosis of different grades were classified according to HE and VG staining categories from 0 to 4, in which there were 8 cases in grade 1, 9 cases in grade 2, 7 cases in grade 3, 13 cases in grade 4. The plasma levels of TGFbeta1 and the serum levels of HA were detected by ELISA. The protein expressions of a-SMA, uPA and PAI-1 in fibrotic liver tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry.

Results: With the progression of hepatic fibrosis, the plasma levels of TGFbeta1 and the protein expression of a-SMA, uPA and PAI-1 in fibrotic liver tissue were increased. In grade 3 and 4, the plasma levels of TGFbeta and the protein expression of a-SMA and PAI-1 in fibrotic liver tissue were significantly increased, but the protein expression of uPA in cirrhosis liver tissue did not increased.

Conclusions: TGFbeta1, a-SMA, uPA and PAI-1 play an important role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Inhibiting the early activation of latent TGFbeta1 or increasing uPA and inhibiting PAI-1 over express may contribute to matrix degradation and retard the progression of hepatic fibrosis.